The truth didn’t scare Emma.
What scared her… was how calm she felt after knowing everything.
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
For a moment, she let it ring.
Watched the screen light up. Fade. Light up again.
Then she answered.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Sterling?”
The voice was steady. Professional.
Emma didn’t blink.
“It’s Ms. Laurent now,” she said calmly.
A pause.
Subtle.
Noted.
“Detective Brian Clark,” he continued. “I need you to come down to the station. It’s about Hazel.”
Emma’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“What happened?”
“She’s not cooperating anymore.”
A beat.
“She’s scared.”
Emma didn’t ask anything else.
“I’ll be there.”
She ended the call and stood still for a second.
Not thinking about fear.
Not thinking about risk.
Just… clarity.
Everything was aligning.
Too prec
